Stoker



Dec. 11, 1934. F1 P, RQESCH 1,983,998

STOKER Original Filed April 9,' 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2STOKER F. P. RoEscH Original Filed April 9, 192'? Dec. 1l, 1934.'

Patented Dec. 11, 1934 PATENT OFFICE STOKER Frank P. Roesch, Chicago,Ill., assignor to Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporationof Delaware Application April 9, 1927, Serial No. 182,193

Renewed April 19, 1934 Claims.

This invention relates to locomotive stokers adapted to convey coal fromthe locomotive tender to the locomotive fire-box, there to bedistributed over the iire.

In stokers of this character heretofore used it I has been the practiceto convey the coal from the tender to the locomotive by a main conveyorsubstantially horizontal with the flooring of the locomotive and tenderand to then convey the coal substantially vertically to the locomotivefire-box by means of an auxiliary conveyor mounted on the locomotive.

The object of this invention is to provide a substantially straightconveyor means for conveying and elevating the coal directly fromA thetender to the re door opening of the locomotive flrebox and to theredistribute the coal conveyed over the re. A still further object of theinvention is to provide an improved means for mounting the conveyorwithin the locomotive cab and tender.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a locomotive a stokeradapted to be easily and readily installed in pre-existing locomotivesand tenders without materially changing their present structure.

A vfurther object of the invention is to provide an improvedconstruction and arrangement for evenly distributing the coal from theconveyor over the re.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following specication and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa side view partially in section showing a portion of a locomotive and atender embodying the stoker of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a locomotive and tender embodying theinvention;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the coal distributor headillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a modivfied distributor head,and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the distributor head shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated V in the drawings, alocomotive 10 having a boiler re-box 11 -at the rear of which is thewater leg 12 and the fire door opening 13, is coupled to the tender 14at l5, said tender having a deck 16, coal bin 1'7 and water tank 18,which surrounds the rear portion and sides of thev coal bin. 'The coalbin is formed with inclined sides 19 and at its bottom is a trough 20 inwhich rotates the rear section 21 of the inclined stoker conveyor screw.A coal crusher 22 may be provided at the forward end of the conveyorscrew section 21 and the in- (cl. 11o-101)' clined conveyor screw iscompleted by the forward inclined sections 23 and 24 normally havingtheir axes in the same line as the axis of the conveyor screw section21. "I'he section 21 drives sections 23 and 24 through universal joints25 and 26. Sections 23 and 24 are contained within surrounding housingsections 27, 28 and 29 provided with universal joints 30 and 31. Theuniversal joint 31 is supported on a bracket 31' attached to the frameof the locomotive 10 which bracket also aids in supporting the entireconveying mechanism. The connection between the conveyor and the bracket3'1' is detachable to permit the entire forward conduit to be slid backa sufficient distance to permit the removal and inspection of draw barsand draw bar pins, and this avoids the necessity of pulling the Stokerapart and connecting it up again for this inspection. The housingsections 27 and 28 have a telescopic joint 32 of the form illustrated,as is customary in stokers of this character, and the section 27 hashandholes protected by covers 27.

The forward or discharge end of the housing 29 is provided with a,cutaway section 33 and inserted within the fire door opening of thefire-box and shaped to fit the door opening resting on the distributorhead D, which is also inserted through the re door opening. A cover orgrid 29' may be provided on the housing section 29 for observing theoperation of the conveyor screw feed. .The fire door 34 closesdownwardly and when in uppermost position permits hand firing andobservance of the interior of the lire-box. Forward of the redoor 34 thecut away section 33 forms a substantially U-shaped channel for the fuel,the floor and sides constituting the sole means for constraining thefuel within the channel as it flows in the ring opening toward thedistributor. A

The conveyor screw comprising the sections 21, 23 and 24 and theuniversal j oints 25 and 26 is driven from the rear 'end of the section21 by gears 35 and 36, these gears being driven from the engine 3'7through shaft section 38, which is 45 `connected to the engine shaft byuniversal joint 39 and through Ashaft 40, which is connected to theshaft section 38 by universal joint 41. The shaft section 38 extendsalong the trough 20 between the trough and water tank 18 and the 50engine 37 is located beneath the tender deck just forward of the watertank where it is supported on the tender frame, or if preferred it maybe disposed beneath the deck 42 of the locomotive and supported. on the.locomotive frame. IThe fl engine 37 is supplied with steam from thelocomotive by a pipe connection provided With a flexible joint ifmounted on the tender frame so as to allow a relative movementl betweenthe locomotive and the tender.

The distributor head D shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, is provided With adistributing plate 43, upon which the coal moves from the conveyor screw24 and a cylindrical portion or section 44 having a pressure fluid inlet45. A raised portion 46 is provided with a semi-circular end portionhaving a series of radial openings or orifices 47 communicating with thelongitudinal passages,48 of different cross sectional areas. Withincylindrical portion or section 44 is a hollow, sliding valve 49 havingan opening 50 which registers consecutively with the longitudinalpassages 48 upon its operation. This sliding valve 49 is operated bytelescopic shaft 51 connected thereto byany operating means 52, such asa crank and pinion connection or eccentric connection. The shaft 51 isoperated by engine 37, being connected thereto by universal joint 53 andto the operating means 52 by universal joint 54.' If desired, the shaft51 may be driven from the conveyor screw. The pressure fluid supply isadmitted to the distributor head D through inlet 45, the supply of whichis controlled by any valve means, such as the valve 55. 'Ihe pressurefluid passes through hollow sliding valve 49, through opening 50 to thefirst longitudinal passage 48, escaping through connecting orifice 47 inthe form of a jet ejecting any coal lying in its path on the table 43,distributing it over the nre. Upon further slidable movement of thevalve the first passage 48 is shut 01T and the pressure fluid passesinto the next passage. The orifices on the side of the raised portion 46are of less diameter than the orifices toward the center, and thepassages 48 narrower, as less pressure uid is required to distribute thecoal to the sides of the fire-box than at the center where it isnecessary to eject and distribute'the coal the entire length of thefire-box.

The modification of the distributor head 56 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 has abody portion 57 and a ring table 58 upon which the coal is deposited.

The raised portion 59 is provided with radially directed orifices 60.The orices 60 are increased in diameter from the side sections towardthe center, the center orifices having the greatest diameter for thereasons stated in connection with the orifices 47 oi the distributorhead 29. Within the body portion 57 is a hollow rotating valve 6l havingan inlet 62 and an outlet 63 for the passage of pressure fluid from theinlet connection 64. The valve is held in place by a removable bottomsection 65, upon which it rests and is rotated by the gearsA 66 and 67,one of which is carried on the end of the shaft 68 rotated by engine 37connected thereto by any desired means. The valve 61 upon rotationpermits pressure uid to pass outfrom the orifices 60, ejecting the coalfrom the table 58, the orifices on the sides of the fire-box beingsmaller than those toward the center as the amount of pressure fluidrequired to eject the coal a shorter distance is less than the amount ofpressure fluid required to eject the coal the length of the fire-box.The orices are so located, spaced and of such a size that an evendistribution of coal over the fire-box is obtained.

This invention provides a mechanism conveying the coal from the tenderto the fire along a short straight path without any obstructive changeof direction and in a single conveyor adjustable only so far as requiredby the relative shifting of the locomotive and tender. The conveyingmeans is thus simplified in structure and operation and trouble due tojamming or stopping of the fuel feed is obviated, The entire column ofthe fuel is continuously under the di rect action of the conveyor screwso as to be simultaneously carried forward and upward as a unitary masswithout relative shifting or turning such as is necessary Where thereare elbows in the line of feed or successive parts of the conveyor arein different directions at an angle to each other. The conveyingmechanism is entirely outside of the locomotive fire-box and the troubledue to heat affecting the operating parts is obviated. The entire columnof fuel is out of contact with the heat from the locomotive until it isin a position to be distributed over the re. The conveyor sectionleading to the fire door is led directly thereto in a short straightpath and,

the short section of the housing for the conveyor screw takes up verylittle space and can be quickly and easily stepped over when theengineer or fireman passes from one side of the cab to the other.

A further advantage of this invention is the provision of an automaticstoker which does not require a special fire-box construction as thecoal is conveyed through the fire door opening, all of the conveyingmeans and elevating means being on the exterior of the locomotivefire-box. Thus, this stoker is adapted to be installed withinpre-existing locomotives with a minimum of alterations thereto.

I claim:

l. The combination with a locomotiveJ having a fire-box provided with aring opening in its backwall, of a tender, and a stoker adapted toconvey and elevate coal from the tender to said fire-box, comprising aconveyor screw substantially straight and inclined throughout its entirelength from the tender to the firing opening, a. distributor head, saidhead extending through the firing opening and located below the upperend of the conveyor screw, and a housing for said conveyor screw, oneend of which extends to the firing opening.

2. The combination with a locomotive having a cab with a deck and alire-box provided with a backwall having a firing opening therein abovesaid cab deck, of a tender having a coal bin provided With a floor, anda stoker adapted to convey and elevate coal from beneath the coal binfloor of the tender to said firing opening of the rebox, comprising aconveyor screw substantially straight and inclined throughout its entirelength from beneath said coal bin floor of the tender to the firingopening of said fire-box, a distributor head, said head extendingthrough the ring opening and located below the upper end of the conveyorscrew, and a housing for said conveyor screw, one end of which is shapedto fit the fire door opening.

3. The combination with a locomotive having a fire-box provided with aring opening in its backwall, of a tender and a stoker adapted to conveyand elevate coal from the tender to said lire-box, comprising a conveyorscrew, a distributor head located below the upper end of the conveyorscrew and a housing for said conveyor screw, one end of which rests onthe outer portion of said distributor head which extends through thefiring opening.

4. The combination with a locomotive having a fire-box provided with afiring opening in its backwall, of a tender, and a stoker arranged toconvey and elevate the coal from the tender to said fire-box, comprisinga conveyor screw, a distributor head, said head extending. through thefiring opening and located below the upper end of the conveyor screw,and a housing for said conveyor screw, one end of which extends to thefiring opening.

5. The combination with a locomotive having a fire-box provided with afiring opening in its backwall, of a tender and a stoker arranged toconvey and elevate the coal from the tender to said re-box, comprising ahousing extending to the firing opening, a distributor head in said ringopening receiving the coal from the housing and a conveyor screw in saidhousing, said distributor head located below the upper end of saidscrew.

6. 'I'he combination with a locomotive provided with a rebox having afiring opening in the backhead thereof and a tender for said locomotive,of a stroker comprising a tender conduit disposed beneath said tenderand adapted to receive fuel downwardly therefrom, fuel forwarding meansin said tender conduit, a distributor disposed in said firing opening, asupport mounted on the locomotive, a riser conduit leading from theforward end of the tender conduit to and being slidably mounted at thefiring opening to move longi- 'tudinally with respect thereto andincluding a ball and socket joint supported by and detach' ablyconnected with said support, and a conveyor screw mounted in said riserconduit substantially coaxial therewith so as to receive fuel directlyfrom said forwarding means.

'1. In combination, a locomotive having a firebox provided with abackhead with a firing opening therein, a tender rearward of thelocomotive, a Stoker for conveying and elevating coal from the tender tothe ring opening, said stoker including an inclined housing section atits forward end communicating with the firing opening, said housingsection having a oor throughout its length extending forwardly andupwardly to the lower portion of the firing opening, and a fueldistributor at the firing opening comprising a chambered head member anda distributing plate, the chambered head member being positioned alongthe under side of said floor and disposed substantially parallel to thefloor extending from without the firebox to within the firing openingand extending crosswise in the firing opening for substantially thewidth of the discharge end of said floor, said distributor plateextending forwardly from said chambered member and the latter having jetopenings in a level below the,

discharge end of the iioor arranged to discharge pressure iiuid jets fordistributing fuel over the plate. n

8. In combination, a locomotive having a firebox provided with abackhead having a firing opening therein, a tender rearward of thelocomotive, a Stoker for conveying and elevating coal from the tender tothe firing opening, said stoker including an inclined housing section atits forward end communicating with the firing opening, said housingsection having a floor throughout its length 'extending forwar'ily andupwardly into the lower portion of the firing opening beyond the planeof the outside surface of the backhead, said floor lying in anapproximately straight line 4a fuel distributor at in the verticalmedial plaine of the housing from adjacent its lower end to the firingopening, and

the firing opening comprising a chambered head member and a distributingplate, the chambered head member being positioned along the under sideofvsaid oor and disposed substantially parallel to the oor extendingfrom without the iirebox to within the firing opening and extendingcrosswise in the firing opening for substantially the width of thedischarge end of said floor, said distributor plate extending forwardlyfrom said chambered member and the latter having jet openings in a levelbelow the discharge end of the floor arranged to discharge pressurefluid jets for distributing fuel over the plate.

9. In combination, a locomotive having a backwall with a firing openingtherein, a stoker housing mounted exteriorly of the backwall, saidhousing having an open end directed endwise toward said firing openingand arranged to discharge fuel at a point forward of the outside surfaceof said backwall, said housing being provided with a fuel supportingfloor in the lower portion of said firing opening and having side wallsin the ring opening extending above the oor, a conveyor screw in saidhousing for urging fuel therethrough, said conveyor screw arranged withthe extended axis thereof passing into the firing opening and throughthe open end of said housing, distributing means at the firing opening,said distributing means being provided with jet orifices for dischargingpressure fluid blasts disposed below the forward edge of said oor andincluding a distributing plate having a fuel supporting surface belowthe blasts discharged from said orifices, said floor and side wallsforming a substantially U -shaped channel in the firing opening in whichchannel the fuel is moved by the action of said conveyor screw to saiddistributing means.

10. In combination, a locomotive having a backwall with a firing openingtherein, a Stoker housing mounted exteriorly of the backwall, saidhousing having an open end directed endwise toward said firing openingand arranged to discharge fuel through the lower portion of the firingopening at a point forward 'of the outside surface of said backwall, aiiredoor above said housing forming a closure for the upper portion ofthe firing opening, said housing being provided with a fuel supportingfloor in the lower portion of said firing opening and having side wallsin the firing opening extending above the floor, a conveyor screw insaid housing for urging fuel therethrough, said conveyor screw arrangedwith the extended axis thereof passing into the firing opening andthrough the open end of said housing, distributing means at the firingopening, said distributing means being provided with jet orifices fordischarging pressure fluid blasts disposed below the forward edge1 ofsaid floor and including a distributing plate having a fuel supportingsurface below the blasts discharged from said orifices, said floor andside walls forming forward from said iiredoor a substantially U-shapedchannel opening upwardly in a vertical direction in the firing openingin which channel the fuel. is moved by the action of said conveyor screwto distributing means.

FRANK P. ROESCH.

